World War I Victoria Cross Recipient. Born in Leamington Spa, England, he served as a Lieutenant in 1/5th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment, British Army. On September 24, 1918, during an attack on the village of Pontruet, France, due the darkness, many men lost direction and Lieutenant Barrett found himself advancing towards Forgan's Trench containing many German machine guns. As the guns opened fire, he collected all the available men and charged the nearest group of machine guns, with himself being wounded. Going on he gained the trench, attacked the garrison, personally disposing of two machine guns and inflicting many casualties. He was again severely wounded, but gave detailed orders to his men to cut their way back to there battalion. Refusing help, he was again wounded, but in spite of his wounds he had managed to fight on until he and his men returned safely to there battalion lines. For most conspicuous bravery, he was invested the Victoria Cross by King George V at Buckingham Palace on February 13, 1919. After the Armistice, he continued to serve in the Territorial Army and rejoined the 1st Leicesters. He later entered the medical field and served as a Surgeon Colonel in the Royal Army Medical Corps during World War II. After the war, he had a very successful career in medicine until his death at 79 in Leicester, England.
World War I Victoria Cross Recipient. Born in Leamington Spa, England, he served as a Lieutenant in 1/5th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment, British Army. On September 24, 1918, during an attack on the village of Pontruet, France, due the darkness, many men lost direction and Lieutenant Barrett found himself advancing towards Forgan's Trench containing many German machine guns. As the guns opened fire, he collected all the available men and charged the nearest group of machine guns, with himself being wounded. Going on he gained the trench, attacked the garrison, personally disposing of two machine guns and inflicting many casualties. He was again severely wounded, but gave detailed orders to his men to cut their way back to there battalion. Refusing help, he was again wounded, but in spite of his wounds he had managed to fight on until he and his men returned safely to there battalion lines. For most conspicuous bravery, he was invested the Victoria Cross by King George V at Buckingham Palace on February 13, 1919. After the Armistice, he continued to serve in the Territorial Army and rejoined the 1st Leicesters. He later entered the medical field and served as a Surgeon Colonel in the Royal Army Medical Corps during World War II. After the war, he had a very successful career in medicine until his death at 79 in Leicester, England.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
Advertisement
